Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Welcome to the ConnectEd Bulletin Board!
This is the place to find opportunities for further professional development, grant and awards opportunities, and much more!
- Stevens Initiative Virtual Exchange Fair
- Joy of Learning PBS KIDS EdCamp
- Teaching & Learning Summer Institute: “Transforming Systems for Innovation"
- DNR Accepting Entries for Air, Air Everywhere Poetry Contest
- Call for Student Art
- 14 New Languages Added to Seal of Biliteracy Assessments
- Schools Encouraged to Apply for Wisconsin Fast Forward Technical Education Equipment Training Grants
- Wisconsin Creativity Summit Online August 7
- Special Education and Pupil Services Virtual Academy in April
- News from Around the State
Stevens Initiative Virtual Exchange Fair
Want to bring exciting, FREE global experiences to your students this fall?
Join the Stevens Initiative for a virtual exchange provider fair, a unique opportunity to meet directly with programs and learn more about how virtual exchange can fit into your classroom or club. Wisconsin DPI and the Stevens Initiative are partnering to support global learning across the curriculum through virtual exchange. Virtual exchange gives all students (and educators) access to global relationships and learning. We believe in the value of
language, intercultural, and global competence for a world-ready Wisconsin.
April 24 from 4-5pm Central.
Register to join this free opportunity to meet directly with virtual exchange programs: https://aspeninstitute.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwsc-yrrjMtGNb363vfdDOavAAH2-t8vtw6
Joy of Learning PBS KIDS EdCamp
As part of the WI DPI Early Statewide Scan, PBS WI is hosting a free EdCamp for PreK-3 educators and providers. Explore joyful learning practices by networking, collaborating, and exploring PBS resources with your early learning peers! This free PBS KIDS Edcamp values experience over expertise! Share, network, and collaborate with other PreK-3 educators and providers. The April 10th EdCamp at the Early Learning Center in Sheboygan focuses on:
- Participant-driven sessions covering topics you choose around joyful learning.
- Sharing your experience and learning from other professionals.
- Exploring free, engaging bilingual PBS learning resources.
- Opportunity to earn 3 hours of credit from the Wisconsin Registry.
For more information visit, https://pbswisconsineducation.org/events/
Teaching & Learning Summer Institute: “Transforming Systems for Innovation"
A three-day retreat for school teams on innovation and growing hope.
When: July 15–18, 2024
Where: Lowenwood, Land O'Lakes (contract pending)
Who: School teams of between 4–6 people, including (but not limited to) administrators, educators, and instructional leaders, will engage in hands-on activities, sessions, discussions, and networking to discover and develop pathways to innovate. Continuous support for implementation will be provided throughout the 2024-25 school year via online sessions.
What: Through hands-on experiences, concurrent sessions, small-group discussion, networking, and reflection, school teams can joyfully explore ways to create their own pathways to hope. Participants will also receive implementation support throughout the 2024-25 school year through online sessions.
Topics include:
- Alternatives to Traditional Grading
- Culturally Relevant Instruction
- Flexibility within the Law
- Growing Hope
- Personalized, Competency-based learning
- and more…
Registration includes food and lodging. Limited to 60 participants. Registration priority will be given to school teams of between 4–6 people. Please complete the application on the bottom of this page. Download the application PDF to preview questions (For planning only. Applications must be submitted through the online form.)
DNR Accepting Entries for Air, Air Everywhere Poetry Contest
This year DNR is offering Wisconsin's parents and teachers a classroom or virtual learning opportunity. Parents and teachers can lead students through an activity (or more than one!) from the Air, Air Everywhere Teacher's Activity guide. The guide includes ten activities to help third, fourth and fifth grade students learn about air quality and the importance of clean air.
Teachers and parents can submit original poems and riddles created by their student(s) to Wisconsin DNR. Three winning poems will have their work featured below as well as on the DNR’s social media accounts.
REQUIREMENTS
- Open to all third, fourth and fifth grade students in Wisconsin.
- Any form of original poetry or riddle is acceptable. Entry must be 200 words or less and describe air and/or the importance of clean air.
- Writing MUST be the original work of the student.
- Each entry must be in PDF or Word format, or written out in an email. No Google Doc links will be accepted.
- Each entry must include the name of the author, the name of the parent/teacher and the parent/teacher's email and phone number.
- Email entries to: DNRAirEducation@wisconsin.gov
- Submit entries by Friday, May 3, 2024, to be eligible. Contest entries will not be returned and will become the property of the contest sponsor.
Instructions
As part of the Where's the Air? activity, students will complete simple sensory experiments to discover the characteristics of air and then write a poem or riddle describing air. Parents and teachers, do not forget to use the Wisconsin air quality facts and information document to help students complete their riddles and poems. This resource is filled with facts on Wisconsin's air quality history and current status to help students understand the state's air quality!
Download the complete Air, Air Everywhere guide, which includes ten activities. For more information about air education, contact Lindsay Haas.
Call for Student Art
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is proud to announce a new project that will annually collect high quality digital images of student artwork from across the state. The images will be printed, framed, and hung in the new home for DPI in the Tommy G. Thompson Center near the capitol building in Madison for one year beginning the summer of 2024. In addition, the artwork will also be displayed on the Arts & Creativity page of the DPI Website.
Quick Overview:
- Entries are open to all K-12 aged students in Wisconsin.
- Each Wisconsin art educator can submit up to 5 works of art from their school’s current work.
- Submission of the student art is done 100% digitally via the project Google Form.
- To be considered for this year, artwork and accompanying information must be submitted no later than May 15, 2024.
- View Project Details and the Submission Form here
14 New Languages Added to Seal of Biliteracy Assessments
Please join us in celebration our partnership for proficiency with the MN Department of Education through which we are celebrating multilingual learners by expanding access to Seal of Biliteracy assessments in 14 new languages! Read to learn more! If your district is not yet authorized to implement the Seal of Biliteracy Program, apply to DPI, and become a part of this national movement to recognize students’ heritage and second language skills! Bilingualism is an indicator of college, career and community readiness. The Seal credential communicates a student’s ability to use languages across cultures and contexts with confidence. Let’s work together to bring this opportunity to all learners across Wisconsin.
Schools Encouraged to Apply for Wisconsin Fast Forward Technical Education Equipment Training Grants
The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced that a new round of Wisconsin Fast Forward grants is available to help prepare students for high-demand careers.
These grants reimburse school districts for the costs of purchasing and installing technical education equipment used in vocational training and technical education in advanced manufacturing fields. Funds also cover the cost for equipment operation software and instructional materials. Grants support technical education and reduce higher education costs through dual enrollment credits, industry-endorsed certificates, and technical endorsements on high school diplomas.
Applications must be sent by 3 p.m. CST on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
Find additional information or download an application on the Wisconsin Fast Forward Program website.
Wisconsin Creativity Summit Online August 7
Join the DPI for a fantastic day learning from nationally renown experts on creativity and education. Collaborate with others from across the state and nation focusing on practical ways to nurture creativity in classrooms, schools, libraries, and communities. Be inspired by an administrator and educators from a Wisconsin school that is recognized as a leader in cultivating creativity with their students. Take part in an opportunity to create a video sharing your story about the impact that creativity has had on your life and the importance of creativity moving forward.
Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024 from 8:45 am - 4:00 pm
Free, Online via Zoom
Audience: Educators, Administrators, School Board Members, Community Leaders, Artists
Format:
- 4 Keynote Speakers - Ted Talk Style (20 minutes) followed by connected break out sessions with participant interaction (40 minutes)
- Wisconsin School spotlighted for its work developing and cultivating creativity
- Keynote Panel Discussion and Q & A
- Optional opportunity for participants to create brief video testimonial sharing the impact creativity has had on their life and the importance of creativity to our future.
Guest Speakers
Dr. Peter Gamwell, Administrator, Educator, Speaker, and Author of "The Wonder Wall"
Dr. S. Renee Mitchell, Creative Revolutionist, Pulitzer Prize nominee, IAmM.O.R.E visionary
Dr. Sarah Cunningham, Rhode Island School of Design Vice Provost for Strategic Partnerships
James Wells, Award-Winning Innovative Teaching and Learning Manager for Crayola
James Murray, Waukesha STEM Academy Principal, 2017 AWSA Principal of the Year
Special Education and Pupil Services Virtual Academy in April
Join the DPI in April for the Special Education and Pupil Services Leadership Virtual Academy. The purpose of these sessions is to build awareness and understanding on technical topics related to those new to the field of Special Education and Pupil Services. Registration is free and is required for each individual event.
April 10, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.; 4/10/24 Registration Link.
- Supporting Neurodiverse Students- SNS and ES3 - Eva Shaw and Katie Berg
- Universal Design for Learning - Missy Elmer
- Wisconsin Statewide Parent-Educator Initiative (WSPEI) - Caroline Rossing
DPI Allocates Nearly $12M To Support School Districts in Meeting Students’ Mental Health Needs via Wisconsin DPI
“I am grateful for this funding from our federal partners, and Wisconsin should now step up to the plate and do more to meet the very real needs of our kids,” State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly said. “Our state currently has the means to make a tremendous difference in the mental health of our kids, and I will continue fighting for our schools to be equipped with staff and the resources to do so. It is critical we come together to support our kids as they endure mounting mental health challenges.”
Revenue limits and property taxes: 91 school districts place referendums on spring ballots via WQOW
Ballots across Wisconsin asked voters to decide whether to fund school referendums. The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District was one of these districts, and superintendent Jeff Holmes said his district's was necessary. It's also an issue that Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction superintendent Jill Underly said lies with the Wisconsin state government.
Kids and teens are feeling climate anxiety. Here's how parents can help. via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
With each cycle, youths are growing more stressed about the state of the environment, exhibiting what’s known as “climate anxiety.” Here’s what climate anxiety is and tips for how caregivers can help.
New summer EBT program coming to Wisconsin via WXOW
The summer EBT program would provide pre-loaded cards to families with school-aged children, so that they can use it to buy groceries, and if they already have an EBT card, the services would be added to that card.